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On today's blog, we look ahead to a vital weekend for Boro as they look to breathe fresh life into their Championship promotion push.

Neil Warnock's Cardiff, the division's surprise package this season, head to the Riverside on Saturday looking to make a big statement, but a win for Garry Monk's side will see them move to within four points of the Bluebirds.

We look ahead to that game and hear from the Cardiff boss, as well as former Boro playmaker Lee Tomlin who prepares to return to the North-east for the first time since leaving Boro.

“We know how important [Saturday’s] game is away from home. We haven’t lost two on the bounce so far, and we don’t plan to tomorrow either.

“The players are a great bunch of lads, since I walked through the door. We’ve taken it upon ourselves, along with the manager, to be as competitive as we can. That filters through down from the manager to the players. We’ve showed that throughout the season so far and now Saturday is a massive game for us - we know that.

“We go out in every game looking to win, and this game is no different. We know that we have a squad deep enough to be where we are at the moment. Every player so far has played their part. We know how important it is to get a result at Middlesbrough to keep us at the top of the table.”

12:46Jonathon Taylor

A flashback to five key Boro vs Cardiff games

Over to Vic who has taken a trip down memory lane and looked at some of the teams’ previous meetings.

From a Fabio thunderbolt to a shameful surrender, and of course, the afternoon when Mogga’s men gate-crashed Cardiff’s promotion party.

And then there was the 2015 game which saw Aitor Karanka’s men beaten in South Wales with a last-minute George Friend own goal. After the game, the infamous Grant Leadbitter BBC Tees interview hit the airwaves.

Oh, and who can forget the stirring second-half fightback which was capped off by THAT Faris Haroun winner?

Brilliant! Bart Ogbeche and Scott McDonald were also on target in that December 2012 clash.

Two former Boro players set for reunion tomorrow

Well the Czech Republic defender, who spent 18 months at Boro, has been talking to GetWestLondon about the prospect of heading to Villa Park tomorrow and seeing Albert Adomah again.

Fulham are without a clean sheet in seven matches, but start the weekend just outside of the top six.

“ It’s difficult to answer, I don’t want to make excuses but sometimes it’s just luck, you know challenges where it will rebound or whatever and it just didn’t turn out in our favour,” Kalas said.

““Lack of concentration and lack of what we demand from one another when you just need to focus and together, especially in the last ten minutes when you’re leading 1-0 or 2-1, you don’t want to lose and you should just put your life on the ground almost and stop them from scoring.

Tomas Kalas

“A cleansheet at Villa Park would be nice and that would mean we gain at least one point, but it will be really difficult because they have spent quite a lot of money, especially on the players that go forward.

“They have Adomah, who is playing well and who I played with at Middlesbrough, so I know he is a good player and Kodjia who everyone knows is a good player and all of them - Snodgrass, I could name everyone from their first 11 and they would all be experienced, good players.”

12:15Jonathon Taylor

A couple more TV games announced

Doesn’t affect Boro, thankfully.But you’d imagine at least one or two Boro games in December will be moved for broadcast. The game at Sheffield Wednesday on December 23, perhaps - and then there’s the home game against Aston Villa provisionally pencilled in for December 28.

“In most games this season they’ve had less possession than their opponents, and I think they’ve made one of the fewest number of passes in the division.

“But Cardiff will believe they can win at Boro. Everybody respects Boro and know they’re a good side, but Cardiff won at Wolves earlier this season and that was a marker, a real confidence booster.

“They won’t fear Boro, but will respect them.”

11:46Jonathon Taylor

Bamford to start tomorrow?

This week marked nine months to the day since he re-joined Boro.

Here’s another nudge towards a bit I wrote on the 24-year-old, which includes what he’s achieved since January & what the future holds for him.

11:39Jonathon Taylor

A look at some of Southgate's transfer dealings

Ah, this will be a nice trip down memory lane for you all.

Remember THESE, who were all recruited during Southgate’s time in charge?

11:38Jonathon Taylor

#OnThisBoroDay 2009 - Southgate sacked

The end of the road for Gareth Southgate.

The news came hours after a 2-0 win over Derby, a result that left Boro fourth in the Championship table - one point adrift of leaders West Brom.

But with gates dropping alarmingly and the team winning just one of their previous five, it was felt like a change was needed if Boro were going to launch a promotion assault.

A difficult one for take, admitted Gareth, as he reflected on that moment back in 2014.

“ No question: losing your job is something that will affect anyone’s confidence. Anyone who has been through that, no matter what you earn or what you have achieved in your life, it is a blow to the ego.

“If I had left a year earlier when we were near the bottom, it might have impacted on me a bit more.

Gareth Southgate

“In hindsight, it gave me the opportunity to go away and learn and strengthen myself in areas of coaching that I needed more knowledge: management, leadership. It is different from leadership on the field as you are leading an organisation when you are manager of a football club.

“You are hardened by the experience. Although I think I am a coach that has empathy with his players, I am less worried about whether they are upset and disappointed because I have seen the impact of relegation on a football club.”

He’s gone on to become England manager - you’d have to say he’s done well for himself, since that setback.

Lovely bloke too. Sure everyone on Teesside wishes him all the best.

11:26Jonathon Taylor

Last time out against Cardiff

That FABIO goal features in this highlights package from 2015/16, followed by another Boro comeback.

11:15Jonathon Taylor

But to balance out the pre-match stats

Boro have enjoyed a good run against Cardiff over the years.

Fabio actually scored for Cardiff against Boro on the last meeting between the sides. And before that, remember Kike’s winner back in 2014/15 which resulted in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking?

11:07Jonathon Taylor

The last time Boro faced a Warnock side...

Yep, Rotherham away. The back end of 2015/16, when Boro’s promotion push was on the verge of collapse.

Weirdly, that’s a game that I can still remember vividly. Not sure if it’s because my ears are still ringing from the overly-loud Frank SInatra music that was blasted out at half-time and full-time.

As Warnock mentioned, Boro absolutely butchered the Millers in that first half - but then lost. A few days later, that infamous Aitor Karanka pre-Charlton walkout unfolded.

11:04KEY EVENT

Warnock on Boro 'smashing the league' and his text from Gibson

Shall we hear some more from Cardiff boss Neil Warnock, ahead of his side’s trip to Boro?

“I did smile (after seeing my record against Boro). I know the chairman quite well up there.

“Last year at Rotherham we played them on our good run. They should have been six up at half-time with the chances they missed, they were so superior. But we got in at 0-0 and changed things around and won 1-0.

“On the way home I’d get a text from the chairman saying, ‘I just knew you’d sort it out at half-time!’. It’s a mutual respect.

“He’s been fantastic for the managers up there, a lovely club, really well-run. It probably goes under the radar in the North-east.

“I think the chairman said they (wanted to) smash this league. Steve Gibson’s a super guy, a fabulous chairman, the way he’s supported it, but it’s a difficult league to smash no matter how much you spend.

“The Championship is not like any other. Money helps but it’s still difficult to get it right.

“It’s still about building a team ethic and spirit and that’s why I have to praise the lads who’ve come in and fitting into the way we wanted.

“We might not have got the individuals others have got, because you do pay for that sort of quality, but we make up for it in other ways. That’s the beauty of the league.”

Braithwaite to shine, D-Day for Wednesday & the weekend banker

It’s a busy weekend of Championship action, and Boro’s home game against Cardiff is a mouthwatering prospect, isn’t it?

Where will it be won and lost? Early - that’s Dom Shaw’s verdict.

“We know Boro have developed a habit of falling behind while Cardiff have proved a tough nut to crack when they’ve got their noses in front.

“Boro can’t afford to give Warnock a head start and allow the shrewd old operator the opportunity to shut up shop.

“Get in front and Boro can kick on against a side that haven’t scored in their last two games.”

As for some pre-match predictions, Dom & I have run the rule over some of the division’s standout matches of the weekend - including Aston Villa vs Fulham, Derby vs Sheffield Wednesday & Ipswich vs Norwich.

We’ve also had a stab at predicting the Boro score too. Let’s just say it’s crowded on the fence!

10:31Jonathon Taylor

Warnock on Boro & the test that awaits

Warnock has been talking to the media this morning - and has been talking about Boro’s financial might, unsurprisingly.

“It will be a big test, they have a lot of the ball with some good players - I had Clayton earlier in his career who’s matured into a good player, and there’s people like Downing.

“The forward line, they finished the game last week with £40m worth of players. That’s not bad going is it? It’s a cracking test.

“We know what a tough league it is. I enjoyed the article on the money spent by others so it shows it’s a tough league when you see Middlesbrough spending £50m.

“You won’t get everything week-in, week-out and it’s about how we react, we have four big games and we’ll know more after that.”

Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock

10:21Jonathon Taylor

Will Tomlin start tomorrow?

Well, that’s been quite the talking point down in South Wales this week ever since Cardiff’s drab 1-0 defeat to Birmingham seven days ago.

A spark has been something the Bluebirds have been missing of late, and given Tomlin has only started twice since his summer move from Bristol City, plenty of supporters are calling for him to come into the XI.

I spoke to Tom Coleman, of the Wales Online, to find out more:

“He hasn’t started many games this season, and that’s an issue that has been much-talked about over the last couple of weeks.

“Why he hasn’t been playing is something of a mystery, really. There’s no obvious reason, other than perhaps he doesn’t fit into the system Warnock is using.

Lee Tomlin

“He’s a flair player, while Cardiff have tended to be direct this season. They don’t knock it around much, but focus more on what they do with the ball when they do get it.

“There’s been calls from some supporters for Tomlin to come into the side, given a couple of poor results of late - so his chance may come.”

10:11Jonathon Taylor

We can't mention Tomlin without re-watching this

He provided some special memories up here, didn’t he - that play-off semi-final win over Brentford at the Riverside springs to mind.

Oh, and THAT sublime assist for Patrick Bamford at Derby.

But there’s little doubt that this takes the biscuit. Poor Vincent Kompany is still wrapped in knots.

The Man City defender didn’t forget it either - trotting towards the attacker when he was warming up at the Etihad for Bournemouth in 2015/16.

Boro's need for a quick start vs Cardiff

Much has been said & written about Boro’s slow starts in the Championship of late.

The 2-2 draw with Barnsley last weekend saw Boro concede the first goal in a league game for the SEVENTH time, more than any other top-half side.

In fact, Garry Monk’s side have gifted the opposition the opener in their last five league fixtures. So that - clearly - is the top priority tomorrow at the Riverside. Don’t concede early. No more rescue missions, please.

It’s an issue Monk himself brought up in the post-match press conference at Oakwell, alluding to fine margins in either box.

He feels Boro are conceding some uncharacteristic goals at the back, and then spurning far too many gilt-edged opportunities in the other box.

Goalscoring certainly doesn’t seem to be an issue for Boro, especially since Martin Braithwaite’s returned to the side. The Denmark international has bagged two goals in his last two, and Boro have scored four goals in their last 180 minutes.

Minor tweaks at either end of the pitch, then? One thing is for sure - don’t put a 0-0 on tomorrow.

09:49Jonathon Taylor

Back in action #2

What’s Carlos de Pena doing these days, I hear you ask?

It looks like he’s back in Uruguay training with Nacional, who he was previously at before signing for Boro.

He’s without a club after being released from his Riverside contract in the summer. He spent the back end of last season on loan at Spanish second-tier side Real Oviedo.